The Red Centre
May 2024: Day 3

Treking around the base of Uluru and the Field of Light dining experience

Introduction

One of the iconic activities at Yulara is to the traverse around the base of Uluru. It can be done on foot, on bicycle or on a Segway. We chose to do the 10.8km on foot. That wasy we could take our time and look at sights as we went. The cyclists and Segwayists zoomed past, more concerned about keeping upright than the scenery. It was a surprisingly easy walk, but we were happy to return to the hotel for lunch and a rest before the evening's activities.

Uluru base walk

Parks Australia, the department that administers the National Park recommends walkers start early, in the cool of the morning before the sun gets high and hot. The recommended starting location is at the western point, known as the Mala car park. Here there is parking for 200 or more vehicles, toilets and fresh water. So our walk started at Mala and went clockwise. Most cyclists and Segway riders went in the opposite direction - which meant we could see them coming and step out of their way.

Parks Australia map of Uluru and the base walk.

Mala car park in he early morning

Scars from the old walking track to the top of Ayer's Rock

Mala Walk sign

Erosinal feature on the base of Uluru

One of several signs asking visitors not to take photos of this section of Uluru

The Sun beginning to lighten the shadows.

Apparently it does rain here.

Exfoliation - an example of a large slab of rock that has split off

Grasses in the morning light

The first wildlife we spotted - Homo walkerii.

More wildlife - Homo segwayii

Example of the stony pavement

Sun shelter and a radio to call for help on the northwest side - if you are still alive in the heat

Look close there are termites everywhere

Water and shelter on the northern face.

Ahh, a seat at last!

Beetle meets Segway

segwayii birdy subspecies

more wildlife hiding in the trees.

walkerii coachload subspecies

More wildlife in the distance - Toyota cruiserii

Unidentifed wildlife...

Yes those are flies - lots of them by this time - and they got worse later in the day.

I recognise that one - its ours!

The End - 10.8km and I'm still standing!

Field of Light Dinner and art installation

One of the dining experiences promoted for Yulara is "A Night at Field of Light". We were picked up from the hotel and taken by coach a short distance outside the town. Here we walked up to a platform on the top oft he dune where we could watch the sun set over Kata Juta and Uluru whilst sipping drinks. Then as it got dark we headed down into the dunes where tables were set for our dinner. Entrees at the table were followed by a buffet with an excellent range of salads, meats and vegtables followed by decadent deserts. Then we were entertained by a didgeridoo expert before being having the stars of the Southern shy explained and located. (Surprising how many people could not locate the Southern Cross, despite it being on their flag).

After dinner were were able to walk through the "Field of Light" art installation with thousands of lights, fibre optic cables and illuminated glass spheres. It was colourfull and entertaining, but I failed to find the point in it.

Starting with drinks...